Half Marathon Blog 8: The Taper

This week I am less busy preparing for the big race than the previous 10 or more weeks. I'm in the taper phase so runs are shorter. Today I set out to run for the longest of the week, just half an hour. Fifteen minutes in I met a friend in the street and chatted for ten minutes. Out of guilt I ended up running an extra 10 minutes. Striking a balance between resting and slacking is tricky.

I am doing better at the eating aspect of preparation. The goal is to boost energy stores in my body ready for extended effort on Sunday. I acknowledge that there is a difference between this and just eating for the sake of it. I have no idea which side of the line I'm on.

The weather is warm here at the moment. This worries me. I get overheated in the middle of winter while running. I'm hoping this fine spell will be replaced by overcast skies, fine drizzle and the very lightest of breeze. I'll probably get a howling gale and hailstones.

The warmer weather brings my biggest dilemma, my outfit for the day. Hats. I have been wearing a baseball cap. I have a collection of very un-cool ones all of which were free. For those who care I wash them each time they are worn - does anybody else do this?




The hats keep the sun or rain out of my eyes and stop some perspiration (there is a lot, hence regular laundering) from running into my eyes. Now that it has warmed up I'm finding the hats too hot. I checked out a super light mesh running cap in the shop - $30. I would invest but I may only wear it once. Should I attempt to modify one of my collection?

Half Marathon Blog 6: A month to go.

There has been a lull in writing. If anyone lost faith I can reassure you that even though I wasn’t sharing I have been running. Only this morning I ran 15 km.

I admit that three weeks ago I went through a period of sustained hatred, when every step was a drain on will power as well as leg, heart and lung power. I’d like to say that I’ve been diligent and maintained my training intensity, stuck to the plan and all round been an obedient trainee but that simply isn’t the case.

Not long after my last missive I ditched my plan, took several days off then ran a few half-hearted laps of the reservoir. I put more energy into thinking of reasons not to run than I would have used just getting on with it. I was ready to give up. Luckily, I had already paid the race entry fee and worse, told people I was running the thing.

At the bottom of my motivational low two of those people came to my rescue, Melissa supplied her half-marathon training plan and Pete offered to be my running buddy. Pete has been intermittent in his attendance at training but still manages to out pace me every time. This should be disheartening but I have simply accepted that he is part mountain goat; has natural ability and I suspect he actually enjoys running.

The training plan Melissa provided is easy to follow and strikes a balance between stretching me to run further each week and being achievable. I printed it out and I smile as I tick off each run as I do it.

I must admit the training it isn’t all bad. I get to spend time in nice places, the bush trails around Ross Creek reservoir are some of my staple routes. Once all this is over and I’m not on a ‘programme’ I will visit again Ross Creek. Instead of pausing only long enough to get a drink from the water fountain and on warmer days fill my baseball cap with water, I will find a bench in the sun and sit down to watch the world and its dogs walk by.